taking no notice of Armand, but
only intent on the delicate operation of polishing his nails.

Suddenly the young man paused in his restless walk and stood in front of
his friend--an earnest, solemn, determined figure.

"Blakeney," he said, "I cannot leave Paris to-morrow."

Sir Percy made no reply. He was contemplating the polish which he had
just succeeded in producing on his thumbnail.

"I must stay here for a while longer," continued Armand firmly. "I may
not be able to return to England for some weeks. You have the three
others here to help you in your enterprise outside Paris. I am entirely
at your service within the compass of its walls."

Still no comment from Blakeney, not a look from beneath the fallen
lids. Armand continued, with a slight tone of impatience apparent in his
voice:

"You must want some one to help you here on Sunday. I am entirely at
your service... here or anywhere in Paris... but I cannot leave this
city... at any rate, not just yet...."

Blakeney was apparently satisfied at last with the result of his
polishing operations. He rose, gave a slight yawn, and turned toward the
door.

"Good night, my dear fellow," he said pleasantly; "it is time we were
all abed. I am so demmed fatigued."

"Percy!" exclaimed the young man hotly.

"Eh? What is it?" queried the other lazily.

"You are not going to leave me like this--without a word?"

"I have said a great many words, my good fellow. I have said 'good
night,' and remarked that I was demmed fatigued."

He was standing beside the door which led to his bedroom, and now he
pushed it open with his hand.

"Percy, you cannot go and leave me like this!" reiterated Armand with
rapidly growing irritation.

"Like what, my dear fellow?" queried Sir Percy with good-humoured
impatience.

"Without a word--without a sign. What have I done that you should treat
me like a child, unworthy even of attention?"

Blakeney had turned back and was now facing him, towering above the
slight figure of the younger man. His face had lost none of its gracious
air, and beneath their heavy lids his eyes looked down not unkindly on
his friend.

"Would you have preferred it, Armand," he said quietly, "if I had said
the word that your ears have heard even though my lips have not uttered
it?"

"I don't understand," murmured Armand defiantly.

"What sign would you have had me make?" continued Sir Percy,
his pleasant voice falling calm and mellow on the younger